Public invited to join All State Park Tour coming to Allamakee County and Yellow River State Forest

Area residents are invited to jump in their favorite car, fire up the engine, roll down the windows, turn up the radio, and put on their biggest smile. Anna Rea says it is time to hit the road to show support for state parks in Iowa on a newly created tour visiting all 94 of Iowa’s state parks.

The crew for Anna Rea - a 1930 Ford Model A (pictured in the accompanying photo) - invites everybody to drive along for a visit to Yellow River State Forest Wednesday, May 18 as part of the tour. While the tour is emphasizing vintage or classic cars, participants can join the fun in any vehicle of their choice.

People wanting to tour Yellow River State Forest can join the crew in Harpers Ferry at the Allamakee County Conservation Board’s Bluff View Park, located at 112 Rhomberg Avenue (the four-way stop sign intersection of Great River Road and Lansing Harpers Road), by 10 a.m. that May 18 morning. The tour will depart Harpers Ferry in time to arrive at Yellow River State Forest by 11 a.m. for a “windshield tour” of the park and to listen to a short presentation by park staff. The tour will continue through northeast Iowa Thursday, May 19 to Echo Valley State Park and Volga River State Recreation Area, with additional details available on the tour website, https://www.annareamodela.com.

Crew members on the tour are Kevin Szcodronski of Ankeny and Ann Raisch of Eldora. They will be leading the tour in an original 1930 Ford Model A affectionately named Anna Rea to visit all 94 state parks in Iowa.

The purposes of the tour are to show support for state parks in Iowa, recognize the contributions that state parks provide to quality of life in the state, celebrate Iowa State Parks Centennial, and enjoy traveling along Iowa’s most scenic roadways at a leisurely pace.

“Our challenge to you is to drive at Anna Rea’s cruising speed of 40 mph!!” event organizers offered. “This trip is also about the most fun you can have and never leave Iowa. You will visit Iowa’s most beautiful areas and meet some of our best people. Take this challenge to get a glimpse of wildlife in road ditches, have more time to enjoy barn art, wave at oncoming drivers, and beep your horn at the people along the route greeting us. We will do a lot of smiling, and hopefully put smiles on the faces of others as we travel along the way.”

People can participate in the tour for as many visits to state parks as they desire. There is no fee, however, it is asked that participants contact Kevin Szcodronski at least a week in advance in order to help organizers better plan the local legs of the state park tour. He can be reached by email at skidia3@outlook.com or by phone at 515-240-7668.

Three tour loops with 33 state park stops were already accomplished as part of the tour in October 2021. The remaining four loops and 61 parks are scheduled for 2022, including the northeast trek scheduled for mid-May. More information about the tour can be found on Anna Rea’s website at www.annareamodela.com or by emailing crew member Kevin Szcodronski at skidia3@outlook.com or by phone at 515-240-7668.

“So grab your keys and come along to see the best of Iowa,” event organizers summarized. “Anna Rea says, ‘AHOOOOGA’.”